Human breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants, providing all essential nutrients for growth. The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, and continued breastfeeding for at least 12 months. Breastfeeding directly feeds an infant from the female breast. The breast is made up of adipose tissue, connective tissue, and lobes that produce milk under the influence of hormones like prolactin and oxytocin. There are some medical conditions that contraindicate breastfeeding due to risks to infant health. Alternatives allow using breast milk when direct breastfeeding is not possible.

1. BREAST

2. Breast feeding is a optimal source of nutrition.
Human milk is specie specific and it provides all
the essential nutrients necessary for growth and
development of new born infant.
WHO recommended exclusive breastfeeding for
first 6months of life,and Continuous breastfeeding
for 12months.

3. Breastfeeding is feeding an infant or young child
with breast milk directly from female human
breasts not from baby bottle or other container.

4. STRUCTURE OF HUMAN
BREAST Human breast are modified sweat glands responsible for lactation.
 It contains adipose tissue & fibrous connective tissue.
 Different hormones are responsible for development of breast & changes
during pregnancy.
 Hormones responsible for development and enlargement are estrogen,
progesterone & prolactin.
 Each breast contains 20 lobes & each lobe contains several lobules which
at the end have alveoli in which milk is produced.
 Milk production & secretion are majorly by prolactin & oxytocin.
 After production of milk in alveolus, the milk moves through the ducts and
are stored in the lactiferous sinus.

5. STRUCTURE OF HUMAN
BREAST

6. MILK EJECTION

20. PROTECTION

21. CONTRAINDICATIONS OF
BREASTFEEDINGHIV , Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1 & 11) infections.
Active Tuberculosis.
Herpes lesions on mother’s breast.
Infant with inborn error of metabolism, galactosemia,
phenylketonuria.
Mothers on certain medications; anticancer therapy,
radioactive isotope etc.

22. DISADVANTAGES OF
ARTIFICIAL BREASTFEEDING
• Interferes with bonding
• More diarrhoea and persistent diarrhoea
• More frequent respiratory infections
• Malnutrition; Vitamin A deficiency
• More allergy and milk intolerance
• Increased risk of some chronic diseases

23. • Obesity
• Lower scores on intelligence tests
• Mother may become pregnant sooner
• Increased risk of anaemia, ovarian cancer, and
breast cancer in mother

24. OTHER OPTIONS IF
BREASTFEEDING IS NOT
POSSIBLE
Mother can still use her milk, even if she decides not to breast
feed:
- use a breast pump( electiric / manual )
- cup or bowl feeding
- spoon feeding
- eye dropper or feeding syringe.
- nursing supplementer.
- get milk from donation bank .